Key holder



y 6, 1969 cs. LE PAGE KEY HOLDER Filed July 25, 1967 INVENTOR GerardT.e'Page BY ATTORNE United States Patent US. Cl. 70-456 3 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a multiple keyholder. The fastening means for the keys comprises a block pivotallysecured to the case and a U-shaped spring clip on the block forretaining the individual keys.

This invention relates to a key holder and, more specifically, to a keyholder in which individual keys may be easily removed from and replacedin a key case.

It is highly desirable in a key holder to be able to remove individualkeys such as an ignition key for an automobile when parking it in aparking lot or garage, or a home or office key, etc., without disturbingor giving up possession of the rest of the keys.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide means by whichindividual keys may be easily removed from the key holder.

It is an object of this invention to provide simple and independentmeans for attaching or detaching a key to a key holder so that the keymay be removed with a minimum of twisting or other manipulation.

Other objects of and advantages as well as the construction and mannerof use of a device in accordance with my invention will be understoodfrom reading the following specification including the drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a key holder embodying the inventionshowing one of the key loops detached from one of the fastening means;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of one of the fastening means inaccordance with my invention and including one of the key loops;

FIG. 2a is a sectional view along the line 2a2a in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the centerline of the fastening meansshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG.3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged isometric view of a fastening means in accordancewith the invention and showing a key loop removed therefrom.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, a key holder embodying theinvention is broadly designated in FIG. 1. This may comprise a leatheror plastic case 12 having a snap fastener closure 14. To the middlepanel of the case is secured a plate 16 by rivet means 18 or the like.The plate 16 has a pair of upstruck ears 20 at its opposite endsrespectively and extending between the ears is a rod 22.

Pivotally secured to the rod 22 are a plurality of fastener means 26,each comprising a block 28 of plastic or the like having a bore 30extending through one end thereof, the bore receiving the rod 22 tomount the fastener in a pivotal relation to the rod. The other end has acentral hole 31.

A retaining clip 32 as shown in FIG. 2a has a U-shaped cross-sectionincluding side panels 3 4 and center panel 36 which embrace the block 28on three sides. The two side panels of the clip are apertured at 38 inalignment and also receive the rod 22 to pivotally relate the clip tothe rod. The opposite end of the clip from the rod carries a pair offingers 40 which as shown (FIG. 2) extend into slots 42 in the sides ofthe block 28. The fingers as shown in FIG. 4 are spaced apart and anenlarged opening 44 is formed adjacent the central panel 36.

The block 28 is formed with a recess 46 in its surface underlying thecentral panel 26 of the U-shaped clip. The recess 46 receives a spring48 of wound wire which is held under compression between the bottom ofthe recess 46 and the under-surface of the panel 36. Thus the spring 48holds the slip biased in position shown in FIG. 3 so that the opening 44(FIG. 4) is not in alignment with the loop receiving hole 3 1. To serveas stop means to keep the spring 48 from driving the clip even furtherto the left as shown in FIG. 3, the end of the central panel 36 istucked in as at 50 and engages the end of the plastic block 28.

The key loop 60 is formed of resilient heavy wire stock in the shape ofa hook having a neck at 62 which may be spread to receive a key, andthen will return to the shape shown. The longer end of the hook 60- isformed with an enlarged head 64 (FIG. 5) leaving a reduced neck portion66.

In operation, from the condition shown in FIG. 5, the loop 60 is made toreceive a key. Then the block 28 and the clip 32 are pinched togethercausing the opening 44 to align with the hole 31. The head 64 of thehook is passed into the hole 31 all the way past the fingers 40. Theblock 28 and clip 32 may be released so that the clip 32 will spring outto the normal position shown (FIG. 4) with the opening 44 and hole 31non-aligned. In this condition, the fingers 40 reduce the size of thehole 3 1 and retain the head 64 in the hole of the fastener.

What I claim is:

1. A key holder including (a) a plate having upstruck ears at theopposite sides thereof;

(b) a rod extending between the ears;

(c) fastening means which comprises a block pivotally secured at one endto the rod and having a central hole in the opposite end facing awayfrom the rod and a slot on one side adjacent to the opposite end andintercepting the hole, a retaining clip pivotally attached to the rodand having a finger in the slot the finger movable laterally of the holeand the clip being biased in a first position so that the finger cutsdown the area of the opening of the hole.

(d) a key loop having an enlarged head, of lesser dimension than thehole whereby the head fits into the hole and past the finger when theclip is moved away from the first position to a second position but isheld in the opening by the finger when the clip is in the cfirstposition.

2. A key holder as described in claim 1 wherein the finger of the clipmoves along and in the slot as the clip moves from the first position tothe second position.

3. A key holder as described in claim 1 wherein the clip is of U-shapeand of sheet material and has two side panels by which the clip ispivoted to the rod and a pair of spaced fingers which move in slots onopposite sides of the block respectively, each slot intercepting thehole, and an enlarged opening is formed between its fingers to alignwith the hole when the clip is in the second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,896,029 1/1933 Gunther 24-813,349,590 10/ 1967 Elsenheimer et al 70456 3,379,041 4/1968 Hanna 70-456MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner.

